So my LTZ came stock with fog/driving lights. later I had the idea to go HID, I asked the dealer and they said it would be fine just no higher than 35w ballasts. So I ordered 2 ballasts and 2 5202 (H16) HID 8000K bulbs. Install was easy and what a difference in light output and vision!!!! I already had HID's in my low beams and loved them this just made everything like daylight in night driving!!!
So anyways 4 months have gone by now and I noticed the front dome on the lens warping/melting. Getting that look when a lighter is held to clear plastic. The HID's burn too hot for the size of the housing. I asked the dealer if this was common they said first time anyone said anything. So I guess I'm the lucky guy. Anyways don't even ask how much for new housings. I found the best way to fix this is through ebay; many sellers have the same housing uses all factory mounts etc nothing different except the bulb instead of the 5202 which is impossible to find except through the dealer (like the 7441 reverse bulbs) they come with an H1, its smaller, more commonly found at every auto store and uses the same plug so no wire changing, and is 55w so no computer signals from the Bulb Monitoring System. As well HALO, a well known maker of HID and look of HID bulbs sells an H1 look of HID. Read reviews and you'll find they are #1, as well most Chevy dealerships carry them on shelf as this is what they use for upgrades for the look of HID in fog/driving and Highbeams (since it is illegal to put real HID's in highbeams.) Probably why I am the only guy who melted his housings that they know of because they didn't do it probably for the same reason.
So my LTZ came stock with fog/driving lights. later I had the idea to go HID, I asked the dealer and they said it would be fine just no higher than 35w ballasts. So I ordered 2 ballasts and 2 5202 (H16) HID 8000K bulbs. Install was easy and what a difference in light output and vision!!!! I already had HID's in my low beams and loved them this just made everything like daylight in night driving!!!
So anyways 4 months have gone by now and I noticed the front dome on the lens warping/melting. Getting that look when a lighter is held to clear plastic. The HID's burn too hot for the size of the housing. I asked the dealer if this was common they said first time anyone said anything. So I guess I'm the lucky guy. Anyways don't even ask how much for new housings. I found the best way to fix this is through ebay; many sellers have the same housing uses all factory mounts etc nothing different except the bulb instead of the 5202 which is impossible to find except through the dealer (like the 7441 reverse bulbs) they come with an H1, its smaller, more commonly found at every auto store and uses the same plug so no wire changing, and is 55w so no computer signals from the Bulb Monitoring System. As well HALO, a well known maker of HID and look of HID bulbs sells an H1 look of HID. Read reviews and you'll find they are #1, as well most Chevy dealerships carry them on shelf as this is what they use for upgrades for the look of HID in fog/driving and Highbeams (since it is illegal to put real HID's in highbeams.) Probably why I am the only guy who melted his housings that they know of because they didn't do it probably for the same reason.
- nauticalx, San Diego, CA, US